Chapter 7

It's been a week since Amanda last saw Charles no calls or texts, whenever she tried calling it's either she receives the cold voice of the network provider or he ignores the call

Today her best friend is coming back to basin city after several years... Sometimes she just comes to visit but today she is coming back for good and that is the only thing keeping her sane from everything going on around her.

The moment she heard the singing of the birds she jumped out of the bed and happily ran to the bathroom.

When she was done she went to the dressing room to select a dress to wear

"I miss Charles... Had it been I had him around he would have done the honour... Why is he doing this... No calls... No text... What is his problem with me... Did he get married to me to dump me here" Amanda pouted

After all the hassle she settled for tight jean pants and a white crop top then she wore white sneakers to match and packed her hair in a messy burn

Satisfied with her dress she made her way to grandma Karen room, as usual, to make sure she had her morning routine and her breakfast as she couldn't come downstairs for breakfast

After she was done with that she went down for her breakfast, halfway through the meal, the once quiet meal became noisy

" Why haven't I seen my son for days," Loreen asked still having her breakfast

"I also don't know mother... I have tried calling him but he refused to answer his phone," Amanda said with her head down

With a fit of rage, Loreen threw away her dignified look as she shouted at Amanda

"Later you call your self a good wife... You don't even know the whereabouts of your husband and you are peacefully having breakfast... That's the reason I never accepted you as his wife... It's been one week now and I haven't set my eyes on my son and it is all your fault!!!

Amanda stood up to leave and Michael went after her

"I am sorry about my mother" Michael apologized

"It's alright you don't have to apologise"

"Get in let me take you to work"

"I am not going to work today but to the airport"

...........

A woman dressed on a red short gown to her thigh and red heels with thick makeup and a bit messy hair, the lady's look was difficult to comprehend because of her makeup.

She and a man on an expensive grey suit was seen quarrelling at the airport, the lady kept shouting at him calling him a pervert

Nobody knows what the man said to her which earned him a slap on the face.

"You slapped me" Gerald was both amused and surprised at the guts of this woman, this is the first time a lady raised her hands on him, doesn't she know her ruthless he is in basin city

Gerald's handsome face was filled with amusement and astonishment

"I like this feisty woman," Gerald thought with the side of his mouth raised into a cunning smile

Just that moment Amanda stepped into the airport, the moment Amanda set her eyes on her best friend she took to her heels to Willabel not minding Gerald she gave her a big hug

Both girls were tearing up in each other arms

"I have missed you so much Willabel," Amanda said

"Sister-in-law do you know this wonder woman," Gerald asked surprised at the fact he saw her here

Gerald's voice drifted Amanda's attention to him,

"You are here Gerald I didn't notice," Amanda said

"Do you know this pervert Amanda... Why is he calling you sister-in-law... Is he related to Desmond"

"Gerald can I speak to you please," Amanda asked

"Sure sister-in-law"

Gerald and Amanda left leaving Willabel alone as they went to talk

"Where is Charles... For the past one week" Amanda said trying to force her tears back in

"Don't worry Amanda he will come back soon" 

"When is soon Gerald... Just give me his present address let me look for him" Amanda asked with pleading eyes

Just then her eyes caught sight of Charles and a woman on a short dress, she had no makeup on but still looked pretty, with a nice figure she has a slender waist and a big bust. She was holding Charles in an ambiguous way anyone who sees them will make them as couples but the lady looked older than Charles but beautiful.

Having seen them she dismissed Gerald and walked up to her best friend  who was waiting for her

"Let's get out of here," 

"Great idea," Willabel said glaring at Gerald

Both girls left the airport to a restaurant to make merry. They both ordered their favourite dishes and gulped it in while chatting not minding onlookers. When they were done eating Amanda's heart still felt heavy from what she saw at the airport so she asked Willabel out to a bar with the excuse that she wants to get wasted with her. 

As a friend and lover of drinks, Willabel couldn't turn down her offer. Amanda and Willabel have been best of friends for more than ten years so Willabel knew her friend was going through something because she is not a lover of alcohol, she knew within her something was off with her best friend right from the airport, since she doesn't want to talk about it she will act like she knows nothing, whenever she is willing to talk she will come clean for that reason Willabel pretended she knew nothing.

The two girls made their way to a middle-class bar to get wasted, Amanda kept drinking until she was drunk, halfway through the drink Willabel went to visit the restroom.

Having the courage Amanda dialled Charles number after some minutes of ringing he finally picked up

"Oh!!! You decided to answer the phone, Charles... I thought you were avoiding me because of that woman... What was I even thinking to have thought you are any different from my ex-husband... You guys share a common trait... I don't want to ever see you again" Amanda shouted on the phone

"You are drunk Amanda where are you let me come get you"

"It is non of your business... Stay with that whore of a woman" 

After pouring out her mind to her heart content Amanda switched off her phone and continue in her merriment, bottle after bottle until she blacked out

Willabel having much alcohol capacity strength than Amanda was a bit tipsy, not knowing what to do with Amanda she called Desmond unknowing to her they have gotten divorced as Amanda never told her.

After waiting for a while Desmond showed up, after exchanging pleasantries with Willabel he picked Amanda to his car and he drove her to his apartment downtown only little people know of.

When he got close to the apartment he operated the gate through his car as his gate can be operated from his car, once he got the gate open he drove into a compound well decorated with flowers and in this compound stood a white villa.

Desmond carried Amanda from the car to the Villa and then took her to the room, he laid her on the bed, his motive of bringing her there is to spend some alone time with her as he missed her a lot

Ever since their divorce he has had sleepless nights, Jade who seemed appealing to him now irritates him, he only keeps her around because of their unborn child. He never knew the once ugly duckling could be this beautiful. Just a day after their divorce and she has transformed into a different lady.

Thinking about all this he felt happy for bringing her here. It never crossed his mind to molest her, not until he caught sight of her enticing figure, not all men can resist

After laying Amanda on the bed his eyes caught sight of her amazing figure which made his eyes dim for a while and then a lot of unhealthy thought flooded his mind and his Adams Apple kept rolling in between his legs

"Amanda we have been married for two years and I have never had a taste of you... I don't know how good you are in bed... I never wished for this Amanda but I can't help it" Desmond said while tracing her figure gently 

........

After Charles got a call from Amanda he began to worry because he knows more than anyone how low Amanda's alcohol capacity is and he also knows she blacks out whenever she takes more than she can carry.

Unable to bear the restlessness of his heart he kept dialling Amanda's number, but each time he does that he receives the cold voice of the network provider.

For that reason Charles became restless he had this feeling Amanda needs him more than ever, unable to get to Amanda Charles called his men to search for her.

After tracking her whereabouts using the CCTV as it was difficult to track her with her phone because it was switched off they found out she went to the bar, getting the CCTV camera from the bar they learnt she is with Desmond.

At the bar with his friends, Charles received a text from his men informing him Amanda is with Desmond. The moment he received that text he paused for a while before getting hysterical throwing everything down, destroying all the valuables after doing it to his heart content

Charles called his men telling them to find all his assets, landed properties including villa both those registered under his name and those registered with the name of his family members.

After much search they finally found him, the moment he got his location, Charles drove there like a mad man praying in his heart that he doesn't arrive late as he doesn't think she will be able to bear the thought of being molested by the man she hates the most

The moment he got to the house he got to the Villa he ordered his men to open door because it was a security lock, after many attempts they got the door open Charles ran to all the bedroom until he located Amanda, he saw Ananda laying on the bed with only underwear on and by the looks of things he hasn't touched her as he was pulling down his clothes.

"Just a minute later and her life would have been ruined", Charles thought

Charles took a large stride to the bed and covered her with the blanket before turning to face Desmond who was wrestling with his clothes

"Why did your badge into my house she is my wife... This is against the la...

His last words were taking away from him by Charles's fist

Not able to withstand the force of his fist  Desmond fall to the floor, wanting to continue on a second thought Amanda needs to be taking care of. 

Turning to face his men he ordered

"Paralyze him, make sure he gets hospitalized for at least one year... He shouldn't be able to use his legs... Destroy all his business... The plan we had for him let it be in motion tomorrow, I want to see results and I don't want to be disturbed" after spelling out his orders coldly from his thin lips he picked Amanda from the bed with the blanket on her to his car, after placing her comfortably he drove to his mansion.

When he got home he carefully took her upstairs and placed her on the bed carefully scared of hurting her. After placing her on the bed he sat at the edge of the bed close to Amanda to have a closer look at her.

He stared at the girl who was radiating brightly under the dim light of the room, her little face was unusually pink as a result of the drink she had

Looking at her facial features he brought out his hands to gently caress her face and a hint of passion flashed through his face

"It's all my fault, Amanda... I will make it right... I am sorry for leaving I just couldn't face you after all my findings... I will make sure you never get to know about it..." 

After muttering to her Charles took a stroll to the balcony as he dialled a strange number

"Stop the investigation... Hide all the evidence... Make sure Amanda never gets to find out in the future... cover our tracks, call off our men"

"Are you sure about that"

Not wanting to answer, afraid of changing his answer he cut the call and sat out for a while just then a message popped up

"Come out I am waiting for you"

Looking at the message for a moment, Charles went ahead to check on Amanda before stepping out to see Gerald

The moment he drew close Gerald greeted him with a punch to his handsome face

"Why did you stop the investigation... Amanda deserves justice"

"I can't continue... The more I search the more I keep drifting away from her... I wasn't even there for her... She has been through a lot... I can't add another to her plate"

"Amanda deserves to know the truth, Charles... Are you doing this for her or your selfish interest?"

"I don't know Gerald all I know is I do not want to lose her!!"

"You of all people should know better... Nothing is hidden under the sun... You are covering your tracks you have Soo many enemies who are ready to dig it out" Gerald said

"I have never been more sure in my life... I am certain she is Nora of eighteen years ago... I will protect her I will do what you as her husband couldn't do for her" Gerald said starring right into Charles's eyes with rage

After dropping those words Gerald made to leave but was stopped by Charles statement

"I have always known you loved her... You never stopped loving her... While I was searching for her I knew you were too... You love her don't you"

But all he got is dead silence for his question

"Answer me, Gerald!!! Do you love my wife?" Charles asked with everything he had In him

"Yes!! I do... I have always loved Nora right from the first time we met her eighteen years ago but I had to give up on my love for her because of you... Once I am done with this investigation and I find out she is Nora of eighteen years ago I won't give up because of you... I will fight for her... I will do what you couldn't do for her which is protect her both from your family and everyone else... She almost got raped today because of you... You made her sad... Did you see her at the airport she was sad because of you" Gerald said all these with his back at Charles hiding his expression

"Please give up on the investigation" Charles begged, for the first time he begged

Gerald stood still, as he started smoking while Charles was not doing well either as he started venting on the walls he kept hitting it with his fist in other to vent

"Stop that Charles... You are hurting yourself" 

Not listening to Gerald, he kept hitting the wall till his heart content

"Do not investigate any further" Charles said as he stood to leave

"What did you find Charles, why are you so bent on keeping me from investigating"

Not giving him a reply he went inside when he got in he went straight to the room he laid Amanda to watch her, seeing her miraculously keeps his heart at ease. But when he got to the room he saw beads of sweat on her even while the rooms air condition was on, Amanda kept shaking calling someone while sleeping and sweating profusely

"Mom... Mom... Mom" Amanda kept murmuring

Charles quickly ran to the bedside to calm her down as he drew her to a tight hug

"It's alright Amanda I am here"

Charles said as he kept consoling her which worked for her as she calmed down but it only lasted for a while as she continued to call on her mother in her dream, Charles who wanted leaving stayed behind to console her.

After stabilising her he went ahead to his study to review some documents as he was finding it difficult to sleep.

After staying in the study for a while he was scared Amanda will go back to having those nightmares so he went back to bed with her and carried her on his arm just like last time as she was his sleeping pills. The past few nights without her has been a hell of a night as sleeping was difficult for him